LAKE COLUMBIA
Actually a 500-acre cooling reservoir for a coal-fired power plant, Lake Columbia is one of Wisconsin’s most unusual manmade fisheries.

Except for a narrow dike that divides the lake down the middle and serves as a baffle for the power plant’s warmwater discharge, there is very little structure on Lake Columbia. It has a uniform depth of about 7 feet, and the water is so warm that there is no aquatic vegetation growing here.

Largemouths dominate the fishery, but smallmouths are present, along with Wisconsin’s only population of hybrid striped bass. There are also yellow/white bass hybrids, catfish and small panfish. But this lake is managed for trophy black bass. All bass species have a minimum-size limit of 18 inches. Only one smallie or bucketmouth can be kept per day, but the hybird limit is three per day.

Bass action is good in the cooler months -- including all winter long -- because the lake never freezes. This is a unique winter fishery where you can cast topwaters in below-freezing weather and catch largemouths in the ever-present fog that shrouds the lake in winter. In cool weather, look for water in the 70- to 75-degree range for largemouths. Most anglers in boats work the dike, where riprap provides cover. In hot weather, you are better off going somewhere else.

There isn’t a boat launch, but carry-in access is provided off Highway J on Columbia’s south end. It is suitable for canoes, cartoppers and float tubes. A number of anglers fish from kayaks and “belly boats,” which adds to the strangeness of this place in the winter.

Contact: DNR Fisheries, Poynette, (608) 635-8122.

EAGLE LAKE
Located near Kansasville in Racine County, Eagle Lake covers 515 acres with a maximum depth of 12 feet. A decade ago, an aggressive plan to eradicate rough fish and restore game fish improved the fishery tremendously. Today, Eagle is one of the best bass lakes in southern Wisconsin, according to DNR fisheries biologist Doug Welch.

“If you like to fish for above-average-sized largemouth bass and get a lot of action, this is the place to go,” Welch said.

Welch suggested working the lake’s north shoreline for bass. There is not a lot of structure, so weedlines will hold fish.

There are public landings at Eagle Lake Park off Church Road on the north side and off Minnetonka Drive on the west shore.

Contact: DNR Fisheries, Sturtevant, (262) 884-2364.

OTHER 18/1 LAKES
A number of smaller lakes scattered throughout southern Wisconsin have the 18/1 bass rule.

Silver Lake in Kenosha County covers 464 acres, has a maximum depth of 44 feet and has a public landing. Another Silver Lake in Manitowoc County covers 69 acres, has a maximum depth of 43 feet and a public landing provides access.

Lake Twelve (53 acres, 19 feet) in Washington County and Hartford/Lyman’s Lake (nine acres, 27 feet) in Waushara County round out the 18/1 lakes. Hartford, also known as Lyman’s, is considered a quality-fishing opportunity. Don’t overlook these little lakes, because they often hold big bass but see little pressure.

BROWN’S LAKE
Brown’s Lake, which covers 396 acres in western Racine County, is the only lake in southern Wisconsin with a 16-inch minimum-size limit on bass. The lake is mostly shallow, with extensive weed growth to about 12 feet. There is one deep hole dropping to 50 feet, and there are good weed edges and contour structure all around this hole.

“There are more bass over 14 inches in this lake than in most southern Wisconsin waters,” said the DNR’s Welch. “We set the size limit at 16 inches to protect the bass fishery from over-exploitation and to increase predation on a stunted bluegill population.”